Needle in a haystack found: Australia recovers missing radioactive capsule

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By Lewis Jackson and Melanie Burton

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian authorities on Wednesday found a radioactive capsule, smaller than a coin, lost in the vast outback after nearly a week of searching along a 1,400-kilometer stretch of motorway, officials said.

The cesium-137 capsule was discovered when a vehicle traveling at 70km/h and equipped with special detection equipment picked up the radiation, according to Western Australian state officials.

The search team then used handheld tracking devices to locate the capsule, which was about 2 meters from the roadside, they added.

“I would like to stress that this is an exceptional result,” Stephen Dawson, Minister for Ambulance Services in Western Australia, said at a news conference.

“When you consider the scope of the research area, locating this object was a monumental challenge, the search parties literally found a needle in a haystack,” Dawson said.

The military is verifying the capsule and it will be moved to a secure facility in the city of Perth on Thursday, he added.

Officials from Western Australia’s Emergency Department, defense agencies, radiation specialists and others have scoured a stretch of motorway for the tiny capsule, which was lost in transit more than two weeks ago.

The radioactive capsule was part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore from Rio Tinto’s Gudai Darri mine in the state’s remote Kimberley region. The ore was hauled to a plant in the Perth suburbs – a route longer than the length of Britain.

Officials said the capsule appeared to have fallen off a truck and landed on the side of the road, adding it was unlikely there would be contamination in the area.

The silver capsule, 6mm in diameter and 8mm long, contains cesium-137, which emits radiation at the rate of 10 X-rays per hour.

People were told to stay at least five meters (16.5 feet) away from the capsule if they spotted it, as exposure could result in radiation burns or radiation sickness. However, drive-by was thought to pose a relatively low risk, similar to x-rays.

Western Australia’s Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said the capsule was found in a remote area far from any community and it was unlikely anyone had been exposed to radiation.

He said there would be an investigation and prosecution would be considered under the state’s Radiation Protection Acts of 1975.

The maximum penalty for unsafe handling of radioactive substances is A$1,000 and A$50 per day if the offense continues, although the state government said on Wednesday it was considering changing the law to allow for higher penalties.

(Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Jamie Freed)